Thomas Holt, 65, of Nesconset, was arrested today and charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony). If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. Holt is expected to be arraigned in Nassau County District Court later this afternoon.

“Businesses often rely on employees to be the trustworthy face of their operations. When that trust is violated, everyone – including customers, fellow employees and management – is hurt by their misconduct,” DA Rice said. “Employees who abuse their positions for their own personal gain must be held accountable for their crimes.”

DA Rice said Holt was employed for the last 20 years at an interior design and supply firm located in Great Neck, where his job was to take orders and payments from walk-in customers. Starting in 2008, he told dozens of customers that he could provide them with a discount, provided they paid him directly with a check made out to cash. He then delivered the merchandise ordered by those customers from the inventory of the store, but did not forward the checks to his employer. Rather, he deposited them in his own personal checking account. The scheme lasted until 2012. Holt was fired by the company in October 2012.

The scheme was discovered during a routine review of the company’s financial records, which showed that payments on invoices had not been credited to the company’s accounts. After speaking with customers who gave payment directly to Holt, the company referred the case to DA Rice’s office for investigation.

Assistant District Attorney Edward Bradley of DA Rice’s Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting the case. Holt is represented by Frank Doddado, Esq.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.